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Wine Description
The Story
Vieux Chateau Certan is one of Pomerol's oldest and most exalted estates, having produced wine since at least the mid 1740s. On the Belleyme Map, published in 1785, the property was listed as "Sertan" and was owned by the Demays, a family of established Bordeaux negociants. A century later, ownership passed to a banker, Charles de Bousquet, who sold it to George Thienpont in 1924.
The family diversified in 1979 when Marcel and Gérard Thienpont founded nearby microcuvée estate Château Le Pin. In 1985, management of Vieux Château Certan came to Alexandre Thienpont.
Wine Information
When I remember 1995, I have two very clear memories: a superb and very hot summer, followed by a long period without rain at the end of the summer. I had to rigorously adapt myself to the vineyard in these conditions.
During vinification, we were compelled to produce a silky and velvety wine: fermentation without stems to avoid any astringency that might disturb the balance, malolactic fermentation in new barrels, fining with four fresh egg whites per barrel and no filtration in order to protect the fruit as much as possible.
Everything was done to extract the unique characteristics of each grape variety. They are found in the preparation of the cuvee in similar quantities as in the vineyard, 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
The colour of Vieux Château Certan 1995 is dark ruby with purple glints and a young wine's slightly bluish edge. Very typical Pomerol in the nose, it has aromas of violet and black currant with excellent aromatic intensity that already reveals great complexity. The attack is suave and rigorous, the different tastes highly distinguishable. Discover its superb equilibrium and long persistence. An exceptional wine, elegant, slightly woody, concentrated and fine at the same time.
The Vieux Château Certan is an excellent wine for laying down. Decanting in a wine carafe is necessary, as much at a young age as in maturity.
Vintage 1995
Bordeaux / An excellent year for both sides of the Gironde and just the vintage that Bordeaux needed after the rain affected vintages of the previous 4 years. A mild winter and early spring was followed by a dry, hot summer. It did rain in early September but the rain was less than in the previous 4 vintages and, crucially, there was perfect weather from September 20th through to October.
Quality is high across all levels and appellations, with the Merlot-dominated wines of St-Emilion andPomerol being particularly successful. The best wines are very ripe and display good concentration and structure.
